Photo Courtesy of NFL  Manning's foundation donates food to schools   Scott Brooks Knoxnews.com Article Archived: 12/18/2008 Manning's foundation donates food to schools Food City also provides vouchers for needy families Scott Brooks Originally published 11:43 p.m., December 17, 2008 Updated 11:43 p.m., December 17, 2008 More than a decade after he left for the NFL, former University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is still giving back to Knoxville - this time by putting food on the tables of needy families. The PeyBack Foundation, formed by Manning in 1999, is donating 750 vouchers for hams and gift certificates for $20 at Food City to children in Knox County schools just in time for the holiday break. Food City provided an equal number of vouchers and gift certificates to the school system. The vouchers will be sent home Friday with children from 12 schools with the highest percentage of students on a free and reduced lunch program. The donation comes at a perfect time, according to South Knox Elementary School principal Muncie Harbin. "This is incredible news. Now we don't have to pick and choose which children we can help," Harbin said. South Knox is receiving 175 vouchers, enough for every child at the school. Ninety-seven percent of the students at the school qualify for free and reduced lunches. "A lot of our parents have been laid off or had their hours reduced this year. We've been trying hard to provide something for these families," Harbin said. Harbin joined other administrators from across the county Wednesday for a formal presentation from the PeyBack Foundation at Food City on Western Avenue. Each principal had similar concerns for this year. "We have children who are going hungry, but their parents aren't on any type of program yet," said Janie Knight, principal at Norwood Elementary School. "This donation was a wonderful surprise." While the Indianapolis Colts quarterback himself couldn't attend the presentation, he is very aware of the donation, according to the foundation's executive director, Elizabeth Ellis. "Peyton wants to be as involved as possible," she said. This is the first year for the giveaway. But the nonprofit is active in Knoxville in other ways. Each year the organization provides gifts and books to children at Beaumont Elementary School. Manning used to read to children there when he was a student at UT. The charity also hosts a pizza party for teenagers at the Boys and Girls Club. "Knoxville is very special to Peyton. We hope we can do more in the future," said Ellis.